Meet Samantha Barks, the actress who Tom Hooper chose to play Eponine in “Les Miserables” over established Hollywood starlets like Scarlett Johansson, Lea Michele and Taylor Swift.

Barks was notified of her big-screen break on Tuesday night following a performance of “Oliver!” at the Manchester Palace in England. Producer Cameron Mackintosh told Barks, who then Tweeted her excitement: “Most incredible moment of my life!!!!”